Altronix EBRIDGE1PCR Single-Port EoC PoE Receiver
The Altronix EBRIDGE1PCR is a single-port Ethernet over Coax (EoC) receiver that bridges legacy coaxial infrastructure into modern IP-powered deployments. It accepts 24VDC or 24VAC input—standard in older surveillance plants—and converts that to PoE output, extending network and power across coaxial runs up to 500 meters without requiring new copper, conduit, or external PoE injectors at the camera end. For integrators retrofitting analog-era installations with IP cameras, access control, or intercoms, this device eliminates the architectural friction of parallel infrastructure.
Key Features
- Ethernet over Coax (EoC) transmission: Single coaxial cable carries both data and power over 500m—no new wiring required. Leverages installed runs that would otherwise be abandoned.
- PoE+ output (802.3at): Delivers up to 30W per port—sufficient for most IP cameras and access control readers. Works directly with standard PoE-enabled devices without secondary splitters.
- Dual-voltage input (24VDC / 24VAC): Accepts both DC and AC power from legacy power supplies or UPS systems. Simplifies power architecture in retrofit scenarios.
- 500-meter range: Verified transmission distance on coax cable. Exceeds typical analog BNC run lengths and eliminates repeater costs for extended perimeter deployments.
- Single-port design: One RJ45 output for individual device or daisy-chain feeds. Compact footprint for DIN-rail or wall mounting in existing enclosures.
- UL Listed: Meets safety and EMC standards for commercial/industrial installations. Simplifies AHJ approval and insurance compliance.
- Lifetime Limited Warranty: Demonstrates confidence in passive EoC reliability. No active components mean low MTBF risk over multi-decade building lifespan.
EoC technology solves a pervasive integration challenge: analog-era security systems are wired almost exclusively in coax (RG59, RG6), but modern IP cameras and networked access control require Ethernet. Rather than pull new Cat5e/Cat6 through existing conduit—often impossible in retrofit scenarios—EoC modems convert the coax pairs into Ethernet carriers. The EBRIDGE1PCR's 500-meter range means a single receiver can serve cameras distributed across a large parking lot, perimeter, or warehouse with no intermediate repeaters or power injection points.
Input voltage flexibility is operationally significant. Many older surveillance installations use 24VAC transformer blocks or distributed 24VDC power supplies. The EBRIDGE1PCR connects directly to those plants without requiring new dedicated circuits. The unit internally regulates the input to produce compliant PoE output, so downstream cameras see standard 802.3at power regardless of whether the source is DC or AC. On retrofit jobs where power infrastructure is scattered, this eliminates a design constraint.
Deployment scenarios include perimeter fence-line cameras fed from a corner power pedestal (24VAC transformer), remote parking-lot camera clusters supplied by a 24VDC UPS, and access control readers at building entrances where coax already terminates in the security closet. ONVIF-compliant cameras and network-native readers work transparently—EoC is transparent at Layer 2, so routing, DHCP, and VMS discovery behave as if the camera were PoE-injected at the NVR. Total cost of ownership is significantly lower than installing parallel Cat6 runs in conduit, especially on large campuses where coax backbone distances exceed 200 meters.
The EBRIDGE1PCR is UL Listed and carries Altronix's lifetime limited warranty, a reflection of the design's simplicity—no active electronics to fail, only passive signaling over coax. It integrates with any ONVIF-capable IP camera, access control system, or intercom that accepts standard 802.3at PoE. No software driver, no proprietary VMS plugin, no firmware updates—install, plug the coax and power, and the device works. For system architects evaluating retrofit strategies on brownfield sites, this device eliminates a major installation cost and timeline risk.
Eden PhillipsPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've deployed EoC on dozens of retrofit projects, and the EBRIDGE1PCR is one of the most straightforward conversion tools in the field. The real value isn't in the receiver itself—it's in what it lets you avoid: ripping out 500 meters of old coax, pulling new Cat6 through conduit that hasn't been touched in 20 years, or installing intermediate PoE switches at mid-run points. On a typical strip-mall security upgrade or warehouse perimeter retrofit, EoC saves 30-50% of the cable and conduit labor. The dual-voltage input (24VDC or 24VAC) is a detail that separates the EBRIDGE1PCR from single-input competitors—most analog plants have a jumble of power sources, and this unit accepts both without requiring a dedicated DC supply or AC-to-DC converter. We've had it feed off legacy 24VAC transformer blocks and 24VDC UPS systems without modification. One caveat: the 500-meter range is tested on standard coax, but age and moisture in 20-year-old cable runs can degrade the link. We always run a cable qualification test before committing to EoC architecture on suspect runs—a 100-meter TDR sweep costs far less than a revisit.
Technical Highlights:
- PoE+ (802.3at) output: 30W per port is ample for 5-8MP IP cameras, dual-relay door controllers, and networked intercoms. The upstream power budget is flexible (24VDC or 24VAC), so you're not locked into a single power architecture—critical on renovation sites where legacy supplies are mixed.
- 500-meter coax transmission: Verified on RG59/RG6. That's far longer than typical analog BNC runs and eliminates the need for intermediate repeaters or secondary PoE injectors. One receiver serves an entire perimeter or parking lot fed from a corner power pedestal.
- Passive EoC bridge: No active electronics beyond input regulation. Ethernet and power signals pass through unmodified—transparent to ONVIF, DHCP, and VMS discovery. No firmware updates, no proprietary software, no single point of failure.
- UL Listed design: Safety and EMC compliance pre-baked. Simplifies AHJ review and insurance underwriting on commercial projects. Lifetime limited warranty reflects the passive architecture's reliability.
- Dual-voltage flexibility: Accepts 24VDC or 24VAC natively. Retrofit installations are rarely blessed with a single, clean power infrastructure—this unit works with whatever legacy supply is already in the field.
Deployment Considerations:
- Cable qualification is non-negotiable on retrofit runs. Age, moisture, and physical damage degrade coax SNR. A TDR or continuity test before installation prevents field surprises—especially on runs longer than 400 meters.
- EoC is Layer 2 transparent, so routing and DHCP work as-is, but network switches at the receiver end still need PoE-capable ports or secondary injectors if you're daisy-chaining cameras. Confirm downstream port power budget before installation.
- The single-port design means one camera or device per receiver. Multi-camera deployments require multiple EBRIDGE1PCR units or a multi-port EoC platform—budget accordingly on large perimeter jobs.
- PoE injectors and EoC receivers should be co-located with the power source (transformer, UPS) for voltage stability. Long DC runs to the receiver can cause sag; keep them within 50 meters if possible.
- Coaxial cable termination (BNC crimps) and grounding practices matter. Loose connectors and ungrounded shields introduce noise that degrades Ethernet SNR. Use quality BNC connectors and follow Altronix grounding guidance for 500-meter deployments.
The EBRIDGE1PCR is ideal for integrators and system architects working on brownfield retrofits where new IP cameras must leverage existing coaxial infrastructure. If your project involves perimeter surveillance, remote access control, or intercom upgrades on a site with legacy analog wiring, this device eliminates a major cost and timeline hurdle. See the Altronix catalog for multi-port EoC platforms and complementary power-distribution solutions.
